Report: Jewish Economist Leading Candidate for Next UN Secretary-General

Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica and a Jewish economist heading UNCTAD, came in first in the first secret ballot of the UN Security Council to select the next Secretary-General, with ten votes. She was followed by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana (nine) and Rafael Grossi of Argentina (seven). Registration remains open, and support from nine of the 15 council members is required, without a veto from the permanent members.

Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica and a Jewish economist who heads the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), came in first in the first secret ballot held by the UN Security Council to select the next Secretary-General. This was reported today (Friday) by the French news agency AFP. The process aims to replace current Secretary-General António Guterres, who is expected to complete his second term at the end of the year. In the ballot, Grynspan received ten votes, followed by former Foreign Minister of Guyana Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with nine votes, and head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi of Argentina with seven votes. Seven candidates are currently in the race, including four women, among them former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet and former President of Senegal Macky Sall. However, registration remains open and additional candidates may join. To win the appointment, a candidate needs the support of at least nine of the 15 council members, along with no veto from the five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. The permanent members have not yet revealed their official positions. Many countries and diplomats are pushing to ensure that for the first time in the UN's 80-year history, a woman is appointed to the position, with the regional rotation practice indicating that it is now the turn of a leader from Latin America.